Buying Advice Kioti NX or RX and horsepower needed

[trctorfan17]

When you get the estimates, pick one, save on buying the tractor, hoe, hog, PHD, etc. and go out and buy a nice BMW or whatever, and show your wife, girlfriend, mistress :shocked:, whomever, a good time, and relax, knowing you've done a good job by letting your fingers do the walking through your local phone book. :thumbsup:

Smart money spent, better overall satisfaction, and a guarantee on the trees/shrubs and fence pieces, and the install of same for a certain period of time. What more could one ask for? :thumbsup:

Coyote, I totally agree with you. Instead of spending 40,000 on RX kioti to only get 73 hp, I can get a BMW with 445 hp and I get to choose the color. And definitely there is a long term list of tasks I can use it for.

 

[trctorfan17]

Regarding mowers, I know Kioti doesn't manufacture mowers so assume they are rebadged. Never heard anything bad about them so they are likely a good brand. I generally buy medium duty. Major quality brands for finish mowers are Woods, Landpride, Rhino. Other good brands too that I cannot remember. I would personally get another Caroni flail (or other good medium duty brand flail from Italy or USA). If you have nothing to do for the next week, read the big flail thread which is titled something like "let's discuss flail mowers".

Thank you IT, may be I will buy that same flail TM1900 you have and just hire someone to come and mow once a week using that flail. I guess it does its own mulching too, so no need for bagging. I like the fact that it doesn't need much hp. Now I understand your previous points...given that mowing (cutter) is one of the hp-thirsty implements.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

I believe the rebadged Kioti implements are Woods brand.

I have an RX 7320. I've been following your thread. I think it would be overkill. I also agree on hiring out a lot of the work of it is financially possible. If not, I would rent tools when I can.
5 acres with a house and garage should be easily managed with an NX. Your cost for implements will also be lower.
1000 feet of trench isn't rocket science but you are not just digging it. You have to put the pipe in. That takes time. And you need to put the soil back. That takes time. With the number of trees you removed you will likely hit tree roots. I think that this is an area where you save money by hiring the trench work out. Find someone who has a mini ex for hire. They can open the trench during the week. You can wrestle the pipe on the weekend. They can come back and fill the trench when you are done. Grading can be done with a box blade and groomed pretty with a landscape rake. I don't know where you are but here in Virginia growing grass after doing that much to the soil is not easy. So mowing may not be a big deal for a year or two.
As for your fencing. That is a lot of fence and a lot of work. You are not doing it fast. And if you do, it will look terrible. Over the last two week I have put in 60 posts and strung 9,000 feet of fencing wire for a deer fence around a small area of orchard. It has been in the high 80's and 90's. Everything takes longer than you think it will. And everything is harder when you have no experience.
And. You have to change your hydraulic oil/ filters. Engine oil, grease the zerks, tighten bolts and nuts that are loose. Replace bolts and nuts that get lost, replace shear bolts you break on the PHD. Diagnose odd noises and vibrations. Figure out how to get diesel to your site. Figure out how to secure all your equipment and tools. Fix hydraulic leaks. Deal with neighbors and county employees.
Fix flat tires. Instal a radio( maybe). Replace Lynch pins and cat 1 pins. Bandage cuts and blisters. Change your shorts after you do something foolish and nearly kill yourself. Starting to get the point? Got a wife? Kids? You won't see them much.
All these things need to be considered.
I work on my farm on weekends. Every weekend. I have missed 3 or 4 weekends this year. I am taking my wife to a concert next month so I plan to be away from the farm the whole weekend. It will eat at me the whole time. If my wife didn't work with me every other weekend on the farm, then I wouldnt see her at all except for an hour after work and an hour in the morning. and I know it would destroy our marriage. That sort of thing needs to be factored in as well.

Good luck on your choices.

 

[IslandTractor]

Well put WoodChuckDad!!!

 

[IslandTractor]

Thank you IT, may be I will buy that same flail TM1900 you have and just hire someone to come and mow once a week using that flail. I guess it does its own mulching too, so no need for bagging. I like the fact that it doesn't need much hp. Now I understand your previous points...given that mowing (cutter) is one of the hp-thirsty implements.

Search that "Let's talk flails " thread for photos of fields cut with the TM1900 to see if it meets expectations. Most of us are happy with the cut but it isn't really a finish mower and is kind of in between a finish and bush hog. Caroni makes an almost identical mower the TL1900 that is a pure finish flail mower but you'd have to special order it from AgriSupply. They stock the TM1900.

Is your land rocky? What state are you in?

Also, while I think the Caroni is a very capable medium duty mower and well made, if price were not a consideration I'd probably buy an Alamo. The upgrade isn't worth the triple cost to me but it's hard to argue that the Alamo isn't better. That said, I'd buy the Caroni again over anything else if mine disappeared.

 

[trctorfan17]

I believe the rebadged Kioti implements are Woods brand.

I have an RX 7320. I've been following your thread. I think it would be overkill. I also agree on hiring out a lot of the work of it is financially possible. If not, I would rent tools when I can.
5 acres with a house and garage should be easily managed with an NX. Your cost for implements will also be lower.
1000 feet of trench isn't rocket science but you are not just digging it. You have to put the pipe in. That takes time. And you need to put the soil back. That takes time. With the number of trees you removed you will likely hit tree roots. I think that this is an area where you save money by hiring the trench work out. Find someone who has a mini ex for hire. They can open the trench during the week. You can wrestle the pipe on the weekend. They can come back and fill the trench when you are done. Grading can be done with a box blade and groomed pretty with a landscape rake. I don't know where you are but here in Virginia growing grass after doing that much to the soil is not easy. So mowing may not be a big deal for a year or two.
As for your fencing. That is a lot of fence and a lot of work. You are not doing it fast. And if you do, it will look terrible. Over the last two week I have put in 60 posts and strung 9,000 feet of fencing wire for a deer fence around a small area of orchard. It has been in the high 80's and 90's. Everything takes longer than you think it will. And everything is harder when you have no experience.
And. You have to change your hydraulic oil/ filters. Engine oil, grease the zerks, tighten bolts and nuts that are loose. Replace bolts and nuts that get lost, replace shear bolts you break on the PHD. Diagnose odd noises and vibrations. Figure out how to get diesel to your site. Figure out how to secure all your equipment and tools. Fix hydraulic leaks. Deal with neighbors and county employees.
Fix flat tires. Instal a radio( maybe). Replace Lynch pins and cat 1 pins. Bandage cuts and blisters. Change your shorts after you do something foolish and nearly kill yourself. Starting to get the point? Got a wife? Kids? You won't see them much.
All these things need to be considered.
I work on my farm on weekends. Every weekend. I have missed 3 or 4 weekends this year. I am taking my wife to a concert next month so I plan to be away from the farm the whole weekend. It will eat at me the whole time. If my wife didn't work with me every other weekend on the farm, then I wouldnt see her at all except for an hour after work and an hour in the morning. and I know it would destroy our marriage. That sort of thing needs to be factored in as well.

Good luck on your choices.

Thank you very much WoodChuckDad.

I am now leaning towards getting someone to help me with those different tasks.

If I am renting skid steer and mini excavator and hydraulic hole digger, then why do I need to buy a tractor at all?

Renting is expensive here, when you factor the 250 drop-off and pickup of equipment.

Also, outsourcing to landscaper is expensive. Just to give you an idea, the estimate for the 1,000 feet drainage project is around 22,000! And that is for 4" pipe, it will cost more if I ask for 6" pipe.

 

[trctorfan17]

Search that "Let's talk flails " thread for photos of fields cut with the TM1900 to see if it meets expectations. Most of us are happy with the cut but it isn't really a finish mower and is kind of in between a finish and bush hog. Caroni makes an almost identical mower the TL1900 that is a pure finish flail mower but you'd have to special order it from AgriSupply. They stock the TM1900.

Is your land rocky? What state are you in?

Also, while I think the Caroni is a very capable medium duty mower and well made, if price were not a consideration I'd probably buy an Alamo. The upgrade isn't worth the triple cost to me but it's hard to argue that the Alamo isn't better. That said, I'd buy the Caroni again over anything else if mine disappeared.

Connecticut, but I don't know how much rock...I never dug before but yes the area is well know for ledge and water.

I looked at the pictures...flail appears to produce some rough cut, I prefer the perfect cut. So does this mean that I need a finish mower? like King Cutter rear discharge RD72?

The cut I get using my JD X734 mid mount deck is fine...I am just trying to get a bigger deck to speed it up.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

Thank you very much WoodChuckDad.

I am now leaning towards getting someone to help me with those different tasks.

If I am renting skid steer and mini excavator and hydraulic hole digger, then why do I need to buy a tractor at all?

Renting is expensive here, when you factor the 250 drop-off and pickup of equipment.

Also, outsourcing to landscaper is expensive. Just to give you an idea, the estimate for the 1,000 feet drainage project is around 22,000! And that is for 4" pipe, it will cost more if I ask for 6" pipe.

Short answer. You don't need a tractor.
Long answer. You will probably find lots of use for a tractor. But you need to balance your desires with reality. And figure out how much you want to spend and how much you are willing to lose on resale if you don't keep it.

From my experience landscapers for the type of job you are talking about are middle men. They hire other people to do the work. Sometimes those other people have an idea player who does the work. You are paying for expertise in planning and organization. You need to find the actual independent owner/operator of the mini ex. I would guess your total cost to be 1500 per day. Connecticut is probably higher cost than Virginia so it may be more than that. But a trailered mini ex, driven to your location and operated for a single day of digging. I would be surprised to have that come out to more than 1500. You will only find out by making contact with the operators.
If you have a local general store where people gather the. You need to go have a cup of coffee there and talk to people. Beware that some people will recognize you as fresh meat and try to work over with a "cityboy tax". But some folks are just honest hard worker NG people. Their time isn't free. And they charge enough to make a good profit but aren't out for an unfair profit.

I have found that it costs less to hire a crane with operator for the day than to rent a telehandler to put up post and beam on my house. Best part for me is they know exactly what they are doing. It gets done faster. They bring and take away the equipment.
But you have to start making contact with people and get recommendations.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

Connecticut, but I don't know how much rock...I never dug before but yes the area is well know for ledge and water.

I looked at the pictures...flail appears to produce some rough cut, I prefer the perfect cut. So does this mean that I need a finish mower? like King Cutter rear discharge RD72?

The cut I get using my JD X734 mid mount deck is fine...I am just trying to get a bigger deck to speed it up.

You can't have what you want. Because it doesn't exist. You want lightning fast, on a field that is not yet smooth, with a perfect cut. How much are you willing to spend to move toward that perfect solution? I think your best bet is a service. But, maybe you could use robotic mowers. I'm sure it won't be cheaphusqvarna has then for 2k but they are only good for 1/4 acre per charge.
There is a company called Bigmow that sells robot mowers for golf courses. If the price point is acceptable you could have a solution that takes care of the lawn and you don't have to mess with it and don't have to worry about time it takes. I think they are made by Belgian robotics systems.

 

[trctorfan17]

You can't have what you want. Because it doesn't exist. You want lightning fast, on a field that is not yet smooth, with a perfect cut. How much are you willing to spend to move toward that perfect solution? I think your best bet is a service. But, maybe you could use robotic mowers. I'm sure it won't be cheaphusqvarna has then for 2k but they are only good for 1/4 acre per charge.
There is a company called Bigmow that sells robot mowers for golf courses. If the price point is acceptable you could have a solution that takes care of the lawn and you don't have to mess with it and don't have to worry about time it takes. I think they are made by Belgian robotics systems.

Service, just mowing, in my area for 5 acres is around 7,000 per year. This doesn't include leaf collection or removal.

Robots are perfect...alternatively, I still have the option to buy a commercial zero turn for 15,000 and hire one guy to stop by every week to mow. This would be cheaper than full service.